INTERNATIONAL INTERCOLLEGIATE CHALLENGE CUP
USPA I/I vs SUPA Britain Elly Schwingel - Michigan State University - ‘20
For
the last eight years, the United States Polo to explain the slight differences in rules to help us learn Association (USPA) and the Schools and Universities Polo before our big match. We started our first full day in England by checking an item Association (SUPA) of Britain have come together to hold a match between some of the best collegiate players in off the typical tourist list with a proper English breakfast at their respective countries. The location alternates each a local restaurant. Mealtimes were one of my favorite parts year between the two countries. In 2020, the International of the trip, not only for the fantastic food, but for a moment Intercollegiate Challenge Cup was held on February 8 to stop and really get to know each other and reflect on at Rugby Polo Club in Rugby, England. I was extremely our experiences throughout the trip. The majority of our fortunate, excited, and shocked to have been selected first day was spent exploring Warwick Castle. The castle for the 2020 USPA International Intercollegiate Team. The was packed full of history, which allowed us to keep our USPA was represented by Molly Agee from Point Loma bodies moving and in shape as we climbed over 30 flights of stairs to the castle Nazerene University, towers and walked Shariah Harris from “I’ve learned to always push myself over 10,000 steps Cornell University, Fritz outside of my comfort zone and take touring the inside of the Felhaber from Texas A&M University, and me from advantage of every opportunity that I am castle. We also toured the Castle dungeon Michigan State University. presented with and I encourage you all to which turned out to be Amy Fraser also joined a great team bonding do the same.” team USA on our trip experience after being across the pond and was truly the best mentor, coach, manager, (left-hand side of scared and chased by live actors! After working up an the road) driver, and team mom we could ask for. SUPA appetite, we checked off another essential experience Britain was represented by Tom Coid, Jamie Grayson, and went to a tea house for tea and biscuits. We finished off the day with a practice match that was run just like the Lolly Stanhope-White and Ben Duckworth. The trip began with all USPA team members meeting in game, which gave us the opportunity to ask the umpire Atlanta to fly to London together. Many of us were meeting specific questions, get familiar with the playing style of our each other for the first time and anxiously awaiting the teammates and opponents, and determine which horses adventure ahead of us. After a long flight to London, we were going to play for the game. Our next day in England was game day! We made we drove to Rugby to check out the polo grounds and explore the surrounding towns. We spent a lot of time sure to get plenty of rest the night before and even took throughout the week at the polo grounds, since SUPA a pregame nap as we were all still adjusting to the time Britain’s nationals were going on simultaneously. It was change. We had an easy going and relaxing day while awe-inspiring to see so many young athletes take part in exploring some stores and attractions in the towns nearby. such an obscure sport. There were around 200 teams and That evening we arrived at the grounds a bit anxious but over 600 polo players competing at nationals. Between incredibly excited to represent our country. Similar to U.S. two arenas at Onley Grounds Equestrian Complex, there polo, the arena games were played three-on-three. We were over 50 chukkers played each day throughout the all played three chukkers each, resulting in a four-man week. The English players were so welcoming and willing rotation with a different make-up of players for each I/I MAGAZINE - 2021
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